LOS ANGELES — Nothing the UCLA men’s basketball team did on Friday night rivaled the excitement that Jordan Chiles brought to the Pauley Pavilion crowd. The UCLA gymnast and her “Dancing With the Stars” partner, Ezra Sosa, performed at halftime, igniting cheers with their jive.
While the pair set a high bar, the difference was clear: They brought energy. The Bruins did not.
Instead, No. 12 UCLA (2-0) lulled through much of Friday’s 74-63 victory over Pepperdine (1-1).
After Monday’s season opener against Eastern Washington, head coach Mick Cronin ripped into his players for their “arrogance.” The lackluster performances continued.
Cronin wasn’t lying when he said he would substitute players because of mental mistakes. In fact, it took him 26 seconds to follow through on that statement, replacing Tyler Bilodeau with Brandon Williams after an unnecessary off-ball foul. Later, both Steven Jamerson II and Jamar Brown were taken out because they turned their back to cutters, leading to easy baskets.
The greatest indication of UCLA’s struggles, though, was its perimeter shooting as the Bruins finished 5 for 21 from 3-point range.
“Our offense wasn’t totally cohesive at times,” Cronin said. “Our guards are a lot better than they played tonight.”
Cronin displayed much less frustration in the post-game press conference compared to Monday. Instead he blamed the offensive woes on incomplete practices as Williams, Donovan Dent and Eric Freeny, who was absent from Friday’s game with a shoulder injury, missed Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices, preventing the Bruins from running 5-on-5.
While it was inconsistent, UCLA did produce some potent stretches throughout the game.
Eric Dailey Jr., who returned from a left knee injury, showed no signs of rust. Early in the first half, he stepped back for a left-wing 3-pointer, then drove the lane and found Skyy Clark for a corner 3-pointer on the next possession. After the Bruins trailed briefly, Dailey restored the lead by stealing an inbound pass and drawing an and-one.
“It’s definitely just tough not playing basketball for a month,” Dailey said. “It was fun. I’m glad to be back in Pauley.”
While they certainly missed Dailey’s athleticism on both sides, his enthusiasm is what Cronin believes is most invaluable to the Bruins. His presence, his attitude, Cronin said, lifts everyone around him.
Feeding off Dailey, the Bruins turned the momentum into a 15-0 run. They took their first double-digit lead after a string of hustle plays from Trent Perry.
First, the sophomore guard whipped the ball to Xavier Booker Jr. for a layup off a pick-and-roll. Then he deflected a Pepperdine pass, leading to a run-out. Dent found him in transition and Perry hung for a double-clutch layup, flexing to the crowd in celebration.
“Trent’s getting better every day,” Cronin said. “I really did not want him to transfer. … If anybody belongs here on our team, for what UCLA’s about academically, and the kind of person he is, it’s him.”
Perry never lacks effort. At times, he exudes an excess amount and it messes with his confidence. When he lets the game come to him, Cronin said, he’s at his best.
Booker came out of halftime with energy on both sides. On offense, he drove for a floater and hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key. On defense, he protected the rim with a pair of rejections on consecutive Pepperdine drives.
He finished with a career-high five blocked shots and led UCLA with 15 points and 12 deflections.
“Defense was one of those things that Coach got on us about,” Booker said. “I took it a little personal.”
After the Eastern Washington game, Booker watched film and saw spots where he could have been more active, defensively. On Friday, he successfully applied those teachings.
He’s been making the transition from stretch-four to playing inside. Friday was his greatest leap. It was a result of his intelligence, Cronin said, his attentiveness in film sessions. The next step is, building his stamina, his motor, his “cardiovascular toughness,” as Cronin put it.
On the flip side, Bilodeau continued to go through the kinks of his position switch to power forward. He often settled for perimeter shots, finishing the night 0 for 4 from behind the arc. Midway through the first half, he passed up an open 3-point look, traveling as he entered the lane.
Imperfect outings are understandable early in any season. There’s no need to panic after an 11-point win. But UCLA’s lack of liveliness – apart from sporadic instances and individual moments – is concerning through two games.
UCLA remains in need of a consistent spark. If it won’t come from Cronin’s vigor, then maybe the Bruins can learn from their classmate Chiles, who danced with the pizzazz and verve that they’re still searching for.
NOTES
Aaron Clark scored 18 points, including 14 of their final 16, to lead the Waves (1-1). Javon Cooley had 17 points and nine rebounds. … The game brought together three former Bruins – Pepperdine coach Ed Schilling (one-time UCLA assistant), Pepperdine assistant Tyus Edney and Jim Harrick, who coached UCLA to its record 11th national championship in 1995 when Edney starred on the team. Harrick also previously coached the Waves.
